Round 5 - Mistley, October 20th

Senecio [Daniel D]

Round 5 of the Eastern League CX was at Mistley on Sunday; now named the Neil Pears Memorial Cross in honour of our recently departed Treasurer, 3 Peaks veteran and long standing anchorman and advocate of the Eastern League. The race has been run for many years at this site and has a special place in the calendar as it is sited almost entirely in a wood on a steep hill. The course can loose earth, loose leaf litter or wet variants of those. Always a challenge. Even though I have been going to races here for years this was the first time I noticed the nuclear fallout shelter on the site. Turns out this was the designated regional command centre for Essex in the event of a nuclear strike. Now being converted to residential housing I guess some of the properties will have ample space for a good wine cellar!

Whilst cold the conditions were dry. I rode mud tyres which I was happy with, but I dare say intermediates would have been okay too. The course was typical for this venue and flowed well. The start was very hectic and I soon lost contact with Mark and Peter. Further ahead, happily as it turns out, out of sight was Vince leading a campaign which would see him waxing all the way into the top fifteen. I had a good race with a chap from Velo Schills.

Despite illness, injury and unfortunate shift patterns we were well represented. I was particularly pleased Geoff and Ed made the journey - hope you guys enjoyed the course. It was a tough circuit and I dare say this was why we had a few DNFs.

I left shortly after my race so didn’t see any of the others. I understand there was an incident in the women’s race which caused a long delay. The details I have are all second hand but as I understand it a specialist ambulance had to be called. An incident such as this does justify British Cycling’s decision that we must provide First Responders at these promotions rather than ‘just’ a first aider. I do hope the rider who was taken ill is now okay.

U10
2 Logan Aryes
U12
11 Louis Oppen
14 Conan Anderson
Youth
31 George Presland
33 Archie Bracewell
37 Ellie Mitchinson
38 Ella Friedlander
42 Henry Hillier
47 Alistair Oppen
58 Lucy Friedlander
V50
13 Vincent Friedlander
20 Martin Hillier
24 Mark Wyer
28 Peter Daniels
32 Daniel Doncaster
V40
24 Iain Foulkes
27 David Hadsley
Women
23 Emma Pell
27 Stevie Wyer
Senior and Junior
47 Geoff Ewen
72 Ed Nelson
73 Alfie Duckett

Please advise corrections to the above, as I always make at least one mistake.

Geoff_E

It seems to be a requirement that there's at least one mountain bike rider at every cross race, so I felt duty-bound to attend.

Ed and I spent some time discussing Death Corner No.1 and Death Corner No.2 during practice. Thankfully for me they were both lefts, as I can turn left far better than I turn right.

Despite this, I was still beaten by the fatbike!

How many Death Corners in round 6?

Senecio [Daniel D]

Last year I crashed really hard turning right off of the beach. There are plenty of straights at Grafham, but enough corners.

ashman

George Presland found his own Death Corner in the Youth race and in his own words 'I forgot to turn and crashed straight into a tree and the boy behind me then crashed straight into me!' Kids eh! His fourth CX Eastern League race since joining the club and is looking forward to Grafham next week.

Stuart F

Thanks for the write up Daniel. Have not done Mistley for a while now as it nearly always clashes with half term and holidays. Sounds like it was a tough one again. I think I heard the lady in question is OK after a short stay in hospital.

Senecio [Daniel D]

Well Grafham could be characterised as having 'Death Ditch'. Whilst there has been discussion in the past about bunny hopping this I think no one has attempted to do so. Do look down though as Boris might be laying there!

Simon.R

seen it done........